West Brom star who has "everything" looks like their new Tom Fellows

West Bromwich Albion’s inconsistent performances in the Championship so far this season let them down again versus Millwall.

After a 1-0 away win at Norwich City, spirits must have been somewhat high among the travelled Baggies contingent at the Den, only for all that positivity to be replaced by doom and gloom when a 3-0 loss was served up.

Truthfully, it was a car-crash showing, as every single big chance that fell to the hosts was put away, while Aune Heggebo, up top for Ryan Mason and Co, failed to fire a single on-target effort at the Lions’ net.

Again, Isaac Price also didn’t cover himself in much glory at the full-time whistle as the wheels continue to come off his own individual Championship season, after being heralded as a fan’s favourite early on.

Price's drop in form for West Brom

It has now been six straight second-tier games for the former Everton youth product without a goal or assist.

Amazingly, at the start of the campaign, Price chipped in with a breakneck four goal contributions from his opening three league clashes. But, since then, his form has dramatically declined.

Against the stern test of Millwall, long gone was the same confident performer who powered home two goals in quick succession against Wrexham, with the out-of-sorts Northern Ireland international managing just one effort – which was blocked – across his unmemorable 62 minutes on the Den turf.

Moreover, only 65% of his passes would find their intended target, with Price now no longer held in such high esteem as a potential Fellows replacement.

Mason would love to have Fellows available for selection right now, after the lightning-quick winger amassed 14 assists across all of last season, to be a constant thorn in the side of Championship sides up and down the division. Unfortunately, he moved to Southampton in the hectic summer transfer window.

However, even with Price going off the boil, the rookie head coach could well have a Fellows-like figure still up his sleeve.

West Brom's new Tom Fellows

The new Baggies manager will believe firmly in his ability to get the best out of the exciting attackers at his disposal in the long run, having worked with the likes of Mikey Moore at Tottenham Hotspur, who was tipped once upon a time to move to the Hawthorns.

That move not working out might well be a blessing in disguise now, however, with Samuel Iling-Junior recruited instead as a tricky and slick winger ready to leave a lasting impact on proceedings, out on loan from nearby Aston Villa.

Iling-Junior certainly showed off a similar burst pace to that of Fellows when gliding forward against Leicester City at the end of September, with the 22-year-old also possessing the necessary composure to finish off the opportunity after such a gung-ho gallop forward.

Sky Sports’ Jobi McAnuff would label the new Baggies’ number 22 as “brilliant” for his ability to open up the Foxes in a split second, with similar praise once handed out to Fellows, too, by former Hawthorns teammate Karlan Grant, who noted his “unbelievable” skill to carve out openings to change tense games.

Games played

172

Clubs played for

5

Goals scored

26

Assists

26

The 16-time England U21 international will also hope – in a similar fashion to the now Southampton number 18 – that he can use this formative stint in the West Midlands as a springboard to be a success elsewhere, having already been around the block with five different clubs in his early career, before moving to West Brom temporarily.

Despite once being lauded as a starlet who has “everything” in his locker to be a success by ex-youth coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst, Iling Junior has yet to make a senior appearance at Villa.

Still, time is very much on the 22-year-old’s side, and if he goes on to fire home even more spectacular efforts to guide the Baggies to promotion, he will surely go on to be successful in the higher league, after becoming a short-term Fellows-style hero for Villa’s near neighbours.

88% passing, 7 duels won: 8/10 West Brom star was even better than Maja

This West Bromwich Albion colossus was even better than a returning Josh Maja away at Norwich City.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 2, 2025

Paulo Nobre escreve carta aberta para Leila Pereira: 'Descobriu o Palmeiras há dez anos'

MatériaMais Notícias

Os bastidores do Palmeiras seguem em ebulição, principalmente após a entrevista coletiva de Leila Pereira, na quarta-feira (11). Quem se manifestou nesta quinta (12) foi o ex-presidente Paulo Nobre, que escreveu, para o Uol, uma carta aberta dedicada à mandatária atual do clube. E o ex-dirigente não poupou palavras para expressar sua indignação. Ele, inclusive, colocou em dúvida o conhecimento e o amor de sua desafeta sobre a história do Verdão.

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Durante a conversa com jornalistas na Academia de Futebol, Leila deu inúmeros recados para seus adversários e críticos, sendo um deles Paulo Nobre. Segundo a presidente, antes de ela chegar como patrocinadora, o Alviverde vivia brigando contra o rebaixamento, e em 2014 não teve méritos ao fugir da zona degola, já que teria conseguido a façanha devido a uma vitória do Santos. O ex-mandatário respondeu firme.

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– Sua arrogância e soberba culminaram na tentativa de reescrever os fatos, falando que só não fomos rebaixados em 2014 por ajuda de outro clube. Não me surpreende esta sua fala, já que a senhora não conhece mesmo quase nada das nossas dores e glórias, uma vez que descobriu que o Palmeiras existe há menos de dez anos.

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+ OLHAR DO PORCO: Leila Pereira precisa aprender a respeitar a história do Palmeiras

Paulo Nobre presidiu o Palmeiras entre 2013 e 2016, sendo com ele que a parceria com a Crefisa foi firmada, em 2015. No entanto, a relação foi rompida, inclusive com seu antigo aliado, Maurício Galiotte, que o sucedeu na presidência. Dessa forma, desiludido com a vida política do clube, Nobre renunciou ao cargo de conselheiro vitalício do clube em 2018 e nunca mais participou dos bastidores. Ele expressou seu sentimento ao ver a entrevista de Leila.

– Ao ver sua infeliz entrevista coletiva, Senhora Presidente, vossa senhoria me fez chorar. De indignação, de nojo e de raiva, por ver o Palestra ser humilhado em rede nacional por uma dirigente sem noção que não tem ideia do que é ser palmeirense – diz a carta.

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Confira abaixo a carta de Paulo Nobre na íntegra:

“Senhora Presidente,

Vossa Senhoria e todos os palmeirenses sabem que me recolhi ao papel de simples torcedor depois de renunciar ao cargo de conselheiro vitalício da Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, em 2018, para não ter que conviver mais com pessoas como a senhora e sua turma.

Em silêncio, nestes seis anos e meio desde que deixei o cargo de presidente, a maior honraria e o maior desafio da minha vida, verti lágrimas de alegria e sofrimento com os títulos conquistados e as duras derrotas em campo.

Mas ontem, ao ver sua infeliz entrevista coletiva, Senhora Presidente, vossa senhoria me fez chorar. De indignação, de nojo e de raiva, por ver o Palestra ser humilhado em rede nacional por uma dirigente sem noção que não tem ideia do que é ser palmeirense.

Ontem, o Palmeiras sofreu um enorme ataque de quem tem o dever, moral e de ofício, de defendê-lo. Não sei se a senhora alcança isso. Provavelmente não!

Sua arrogância e soberba culminaram na tentativa de reescrever os fatos, falando que só não fomos rebaixados em 2014 por ajuda de outro clube.

Não me surpreende esta sua fala, já que a senhora não conhece mesmo quase nada das nossas dores e glórias, uma vez que descobriu que o Palmeiras existe há menos de dez anos.

Em vários outros momentos de sua ainda inexpressiva gestão como presidente, o sentimento que a senhora gerou em mim e na família palmeirenses foi apenas o de vergonha alheia.

Como por exemplo quando simulou estar ensinando jogadores a bater pênaltis ou quando serviu água ao elenco, como aeromoça, no seu caríssimo avião. Isso para não falar de suas aparições histéricas, pulando e simulando uma alegria falsa em vitórias do Palmeiras.

Em outras oportunidades, a senhora apenas gerou desconfiança sobre sua capacidade de liderar, com seu habitual silêncio nas eliminações de competições importantes ou quando proibiu todo o elenco de dar entrevistas sem nenhum motivo plausível.

Mas ontem a senhora passou de todos os limites, senhora Presidente. E tenho certeza de que o sentimento que gerou, em mim e em milhões de pessoas, foi de asco e revolta mesmo.

O Palmeiras não foi fundado em 2015. Dizer que, antes da senhora e das suas empresas aqui chegarem, vivíamos apenas de sofrimento fala muito mais sobre sua ignorância rotineira do que sobre nossa trajetória.

Ao contrário do que a senhora quer fazer crer, a história de luta e conquistas desta família não começou quando as suas empresas passaram a ser patrocinadora da paixão de milhões de pessoas, coletividade da qual a senhora não faz parte. O seu dinheiro pode comprar muita coisa, mas a senhora nunca será uma de nós de verdade.

Me permita, senhora presidente, contar um pouco da história do clube que vossa senhoria preside. Sem a Crefisa na camisa, já éramos o maior campeão do Brasil. Havíamos pintado a América de verde e branco. Nos vingamos do Maracanazzo e nos tornamos o primeiro campeão mundial de clubes, em 1951. Representamos a Seleção brasileira em 1965, entre tantos outros feitos que a senhora demonstra desconhecer. Sofremos várias vezes, sim. Mas sempre demos a volta por cima com altivez. E sua petulante praga de que voltaremos à segunda divisão quando a senhora pegar suas bolsas caríssimas e sair do cargo de presidente, ah essa praga não vai pegar!

Apesar de não conhecer quase nada da nossa história, a senhora já deve ter ouvido que explicar a emoção de ser palmeirense a um palmeirense é totalmente desnecessário. E explicar essa emoção para a senhora, que não nasceu Palestra, é simplesmente impossível. O orgulho de SER PALMEIRENSE SEMPRE E EM QUALQUER SITUAÇÃO precede a emoção de ser campeão! Difícil para senhora entender, não é?!

Tenha o mínimo de decoro e decência, senhora presidente. Respeite a Sociedade Esportiva que lhe tirou do anonimato. Honre e respeite o privilégio de ter em suas mãos o poder de representar este clube centenário, que é a razão de viver de milhões de pessoas.

De tanto ser chamada de “dona” Leila Pereira, a senhora deve ter achado, em seus devaneios, que é agora dona.. do Palmeiras. Algo que não é e, se Deus quiser, jamais será.

Em sua memória seletiva como dirigente/patrocinadora, que não consegue enxergar conflito de interesses por estar com dois chapéus ao mesmo tempo, a senhora se esqueceu de dizer que por quase oito anos usufruiu sem nenhum escrúpulo do apoio da uniformizada que que agora passou a atacar. Os iludiu com falsas promessas e não aceitou ser cobrada posteriormente.

Curioso notar que não foi a dor do palmeirense com a eliminação da Libertadores em casa, há uma semana, que lhe fez vociferar. Foram pichações às lojas da sua empresa que te tiraram do costumeiro e cômodo sumiço em tempos de derrotas. O que mexeu com seus brios foi a ameaça à sua verdadeira e maior paixão, a Sociedade Anônima Crefisa.

Senhora presidente, vossa excelência é muito vivida e deve saber que, mesmo sendo muito rica, não conseguirá comprar a admiração dos palmeirenses. Isso se conquista. Dinheiro, mesmo em enorme quantidade, também não compra berço. Não compra educação. Não compra postura. Não compra idolatria. E, principalmente, não comprará o nosso respeito.

Como me aposentei da política do clube e não tenho nenhum objetivo que não seja desejar o melhor para o meu time de coração, seguirei aqui torcendo para que sua gestão enfim encontre um rumo e devolva a alegria e o orgulho aos palmeirenses.

O que me consola hoje é saber que nada é para sempre e que, cedo ou tarde, voltaremos a ter um palmeirense de verdade neste cargo tão importante. Depois da senhora, e apesar da senhora, o Palmeiras continuará sendo o Palmeiras.

“Hoje você é quem manda
“Falou, ‘tá falado
Não tem discussão, não
A minha gente hoje anda falando de lado
E olhando pro chão, viu”

Apesar de você, amanhã há de ser outro dia.

Avanti Palestra, sempre!

Paulo Nobre, ex-presidente da Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras”

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Leila PereiraPalmeirasPaulo Nobre

Ferroviário x Ferroviária: onde assistir ao vivo, escalações do jogo e horário da final da Série D

MatériaMais Notícias

A grande final da Série D é hoje! Ferroviário-CE e Ferroviária-SP se enfrentam na decisão da quarta divisão, neste sábado (16), às 16h. Após o empate em 0 a 0 no primeiro jogo, os times voltam a se encontrar no Estádio Presidente Vargas, em Fortaleza (CE).

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Em busca do segundo título da Série D, o Ferroviário terá o apoio de sua torcida para a decisão, algo que ajudou o clube na semifinal contra o Caxias do Sul. Contra os gaúchos, também empataram no primeiro jogo, mas no Nordeste, com o apoio da torcida, deu o Tubarão da Barra.

Para a Ferroviária, esse será um dos maiores jogos da história do clube, já que nunca conquistaram um título nacional. Decidindo fora de casa a decisão, não será um problema para os jogadores, já que eliminaram o Athletic na semi-final em Minas Gerais.

FICHA TÉCNICA
FERROVIÁRIO X FERROVIÁRIA

Data: 16 de setembro de 2023
Horário: 16h (horário de Brasília)
Local: (Estádio Presidente Vargas, em Fortaleza (CE)
Onde assistir: TV Brasil, BandSports e F.Sports TV

Ousmane Dembele wants pay rise worthy of a Ballon d'Or winner! PSG star makes new contract demand but European champions stand firm after learning lesson from Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi & Neymar days

Ousmane Dembele has asked Paris Saint-Germain for a new contract and a pay rise worthy of his new status as a Ballon d’Or winner. The French winger, currently earning €18 million per year and tied to the club until 2028, wants a salary that reflects his global standing, but PSG are unwilling to return to the extravagant wage structure of the Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi era.

  • Dembele demands new deal after Ballon d’Or triumph

    Fresh off winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Dembele believes his performances merit a significant contract upgrade. The PSG star’s representatives have already approached the club to renegotiate terms, arguing that his current €18m (£15m/$19m) annual salary no longer matches his world-beating form. Under contract until 2028, Dembele remains calm but expects recognition for his new status.

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    No Ballon d’Or clause, but big ambitions

    As with his Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona contracts, Dembele demanded a his PSG deal include a clause that would entitle him to a pay rise should he win the Ballon d’Or clause. While the French side deny such an agreement, reports that it is indeed in the contract and his entourage are now pushing the club to honour it. They believe the forward’s individual success and Champions League-winning exploits justify higher pay. PSG, however, have responded cautiously, open to negotiation but unwilling to mirror the financial excesses of the past.

  • PSG stand firm after lessons from the past

    Inside the PSG hierarchy, there is firm resistance to repeating the mistakes of the Neymar-Mbappe-Messi era. Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Luis Campos have established a stricter financial policy, with a focus on sustainability and team balance. Although the accounts are back in the black after a record year, the club's room for manoeuvre remains limited, particularly due to the drastic drop in television rights, reports. PSG are constrained by financial fair play and does not want to fall back into its old ways. PSG recognise that Dembele’s current salary does not reflect his new status, but they do not intend to break the bank. The club’s financial fair play obligations also make them cautious.

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    Comparing the numbers, and the message

    At €18m per year, Dembele is already PSG’s highest earner, tet the figure pales compared to Neymar’s €30m or the staggering €70m Mbappe once earned. Dembele isn’t asking for those sums, but wants a deal reflecting his image, consistency, and leadership. PSG, though, fear that raising his wages could spark a ripple effect in the dressing room, reopening old wounds from the club’s spendthrift years.

Sai Sudharsan's 82 powers GT to 217

Buttler and Shahrukh made 36 each, before Rashid and Tewatia exploded at the finish

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Apr-2025B Sai Sudharsan scored yet another half-century, this time 82 off 53 balls, and helped Gujarat Titans (GT) post a healthy 217 for 6 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Ahmedabad. Speaking to the broadcaster at the innings break, he said it was a good total, given there had not been much dew until then.Earlier, after RR sent GT in, Jofra Archer once again gave his side an early breakthrough. In RR’s previous game, he had bowled Punjab Kings’ Priyansh Arya first ball. Tonight, he pegged back Shubman Gill’s off stump with the first ball of his second over.But Sai Sudharsan carried on with his sublime form. He ramped, scooped, drove and cut, and steered his side to 50 in 5.1 overs. At the end of the powerplay, he was batting on 39 off 22. Only Wriddhiman Saha (54 vs Lucknow Super Giants in 2023) has scored more runs for GT in an innings in that phase.Jos Buttler, who was welcomed to the crease with a nasty bouncer from Archer, also joined in after a slow start. He was on 12 off 13 at one point but hit four fours in his next six balls to move to 31 off 19.Maheesh Theekshana ended the 80-run second-wicket stand, off 47 balls, by trapping Buttler lbw. But M Shahrukh Khan smashed 36 off 20 to keep GT going.Sudharsan was dropped on 81 by Shubham Dubey off Archer but he could add only one more to his score. But Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan ensured GT ransacked 30 from the last two overs.

£80m Chelsea player could now leave in 24 hours after Chukwuemeka

Chelsea have raised £239 million in player sales after Carney Chukwuemeka’s £24m move to Borussia Dortmund, but another could soon be following him.

Thanks to their plethora of exit deals, Enzo Maresca’s side possess an excellent summer net spend of just £3 million heading into deadline day, so they’re under no pressure from the Premier League’s PSR rules to balance their books.

However, due to their pact with UEFA, Chelsea still need to sell certain members of the squad.

They reached a settlement with the governing body last month after Chelsea breached FFP laws, and a condition of this pact is that they must produce a positive transfer balance by the end of the window.

Failure to do so will result in them being unable to register new signings for Maresca’s Champions League squad, and only players who were involved in their Conference League squad last season will count towards viable outgoings.

This is why the sales of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson are viewed as crucial to Chelsea’s remaining transfer plans for the window.

BlueCo have been in talks over signing Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons for weeks, and reports now claim that Chelsea are also eyeing Barcelona star Fermin Lopez as an alternative to the latter.

A sell-to-buy policy appears very much in effect at Stamford Bridge, but a potentially imminent exit for Jackson could be on the cards to allow Maresca’s side to make room.

Bayern Munich are in negotiations over the Senegal international, valued at £80 million, who has also attracted rumoured interest from Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Now, the player’s own agent has shared an intriguing update on his future.

Nicolas Jackson tipped to leave Chelsea within 24 hours

Speaking to Wiw Sports on Tuesday morning, Jackson’s representative, Diomansy Kramara, claimed that the striker is expected to leave Chelsea in the next 48 hours, so at the time of writing now, this is now 24 hours.

The former Villarreal star was a key member of Maresca’s first team last season, bagging 13 goals and six assists in all competitions, including a strike in the Conference League final.

However, the additions of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro have pushed Jackson down the pecking order, and he’s not been involved in any of Chelsea’s opening Premier League games as Maresca confirms he can leave.

Gill, Rohit and Kohli in top five of ICC's ODI batting rankings

The team made gains on the bowling rankings as well with Kuldeep Yadav ranked third and Jadeja tenth

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2025After India’s unbeaten run through the Champions Trophy, several of their star performers have moved up the ICC’s ODI rankings. They make up four of the top-eight batters in the world with Shubman Gill still at No. 1. Rohit Sharma, Player of the Final for his match-winning 76, has moved up two places to No. 3, and Virat Kohli, with 218 runs in the tournament, is at No. 5. Shreyas Iyer has retained his No. 8 spot.The side’s third Champions Trophy title was set up by their spinners and two of them have made it to the top ten on the bowlers’ rankings. Kuldeep Yadav, who began his spell in the final with a wicket, is up at third place, and in tenth is Ravindra Jadeja, who had a miserly economy rate of 4.35 in the tournament.Full rankings tables

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India’s next ODI assignment is away in Bangladesh in August, followed by ODIs in Australia in October-November. South Africa and New Zealand then tour India over December and January, and one question has been whether Rohit and Kohli continue playing the format with the 2027 ODI World Cup still quite far away.Ricky Ponting, though, believes Rohit certainly has some unfinished business in the ODI game. “I think probably the fact that they lost the last one [2023 World Cup in India] and he was captain, that might be the thing that’s playing on the back of his mind,” Ponting told . “Just have one more crack at trying to win the T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy, and the ODI World Cup. I mean when you see him play like he played in the Champions Trophy final, you wouldn’t say that his time is up just yet.”Santner, Bracewell, Ravindra zoom upNew Zealand’s players made significant gains as well after their team’s run to the final of the Champions Trophy. Captain Mitchell Santner is ranked second on the ODI bowlers’ list, moving up six places on the back of several eye-catching performances. Santner finished with nine wickets in the tournament with an economy rate of 4.80.Santner is also fourth on the ODI allrounders’ rankings with Michael Bracewell, who made a fifty in the final and was New Zealand’s second-highest wicket-taker in the Champions Trophy, in seventh place.The other standout New Zealand player, Rachin Ravindra, who was the highest-scorer of the competition, jumped 14 places to 14th on the ODI batters’ rankings and eight places up to eighth in the allrounders rankings.

He'd get Gyokeres firing: Arsenal planning offer for £100k-p/w "magician"

While it’s not quite panic stations just yet, it would be fair to say that the shine has been taken off of Arsenal’s pre-season preparations over the last week or so.

It started with an underwhelming defeat to Tottenham Hotspur out in Hong Kong, and then the mood around the club got even worse following the 3-2 loss at home to Villarreal on Wednesday.

It wasn’t just the losses that shook confidence in some supporters, but also the nature of them, the lack of genuine cutting-edge, and specifically, Viktor Gyokeres’ ineffectiveness in the latter match.

However, the good news is that, based on reports, it looks like Arsenal are targeting someone who’d be able to get the Swede firing in no time at all.

Arsenal target perfect teammate for Gyokeres

While the last two games have certainly dented the excitement that some fans were feeling ahead of the new Premier League season, it should be said that this summer has still been a largely positive one, especially when it comes to transfers.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, in addition to Gyokeres, Andrea Berta and his team have made five first-team additions to Mikel Arteta’s squad, with the likes of Noni Madueke and Christian Norgaard looking like excellent depth options and Martin Zubimendi the perfect long-term six.

Yet, things could still get better as the club are still looking to bring in at least one more player, someone who could help the former Sporting CP star explode next season.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Sebastian Vidal, who has reaffirmed that Arsenal are very interested in signing Eberechi Eze this summer.

The journalist has revealed that even though talks have somewhat stalled, the Englishman remains a key target and that a player sale may make it easier to secure his services.

It’ll likely be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but Eze has more than proven his ability and would be more than worth the effort it takes to get him, especially as he could get Gyokeres firing right away.

Why Eze would get Gyokeres firing

Okay, so while there is every chance that things will naturally improve the more games he plays in the team, it was obvious that the biggest problem for Gyokeres against Villarreal was the lack of opportunities being created for him.

Unlike Kai Havertz, who likes to drop back into midfield whenever he can, the Swedish superstar is very much your archetypal centre-forward, someone who spends most of his time in and around the penalty area, and rarely takes his shots from outside the area.

In this case, it’s clear that Arsenal need someone who can get the ball to him with relative ease, either through brilliant ball-carrying or passing, and fortunately, it looks like Eze would be excellent at the former.

Crystal Palace's EberechiEze

For example, FBref ranked him in the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last season for successful take-ons per 90.

In other words, the Palace “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, is elite at getting past opposition defenders and driving into dangerous areas before firing off a shot or laying the ball off for a teammate.

Another reason to believe the £100k-per-week gem could be the one to help the former Sporting star explode next season is the output he managed in a mid-table side last season.

In 43 appearances, totalling just 3303 minutes, the 27-year-old game-changer managed to find the back of the net 14 times and provide 11 assists for good measure.

Appearances

36

43

Minutes

2285′

3303′

Goals

11

14

Assists

6

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

134.41′

132.12′

That means he maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes, which is the sort of output that could seriously boost Gyokeres’ own goal and assist tally.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to add another attacking dimension to the team before the end of the summer, and not only would Eze do that, but he’d also get the most out of Gyokeres.

A dream for Saka: Arsenal plot move to sign "world-class" £43m sensation

The incredible attacker would help Arsenal and the Englishman reach another level.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 6, 2025

Liam Livingstone trumps Shai Hope to square series in battle of captain's hundreds

England take series to decider after completing second-highest run-chase in the Caribbean

Vithushan Ehantharajah02-Nov-2024 England 329 for 5 (Livingstone 124*, Salt 59, Bethell 55, Curran 52, Forde 3-48) beat West Indies 328 for 6 (Hope 117, Carty 71, Rutherford 54) by five wicketsIn the battle of captain’s centuries, there was one clear winner. Liam Livingstone’s devastating 124 not out from 85 balls trumped Shai Hope’s far more sedate 117 as England sealed victory in the second ODI by five wickets.That it was Livingstone’s maiden 50-over century is one thing. But leading an inexperienced group, the responsibility he assumed to see England home in a chase of 329 – and thus square the series at 1-1 – in such jaw-dropping fashion is worthy of the highest praise.The tourists looked up against it after Phil Salt’s 59 and Jacob Bethell’s 55 – his maiden international half-century – had beenthe only scores of note in the top four. But a watchful stand between Livingstone and Sam Curran (52) evolved into a match-twisting epic of 140 from just 107 balls.The acceleration at the end that brought victory with 15 balls to spare is showcased best in the breakdown of Livingstone’s approach into the final 10 overs, with 100 still to get. He headed into this period on 46 from 57, before striking 78 off his final 28 deliveries.Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie – 4 for 41 in the first ODI – was taken down for 14 and 16 at the start of the back straight to nurse his worst figures of 0 for 71. Jayden Seales was carted for 26 in an over, before debutant Shamar Joseph was thumped for 24. No one was safe. All in all, Livingstone thumped nine sixes among his 14 boundaries.Aside from a hacked edge from Livingstone on four that flew between Hope and a wide first slip, there was little Hope could do to turn back the tide. Earlier in the day, his 17th century had seemingly done the main graft to put West Indies at a commanding position at the halfway stage with 328 for 6, meaning England needed to complete the second-highest ODI run-chase in the Caribbean.Hope arrived at the start of the fourth over and batted through to the end of the 47th. There was vital support from Keacy Carty – whose 71 came in a third-wicket stand of 143 – and Sherfane Rutherford – his punchy 54 providing the majority of 79 for the fourth. Cameos from Shimron Hetmyer and Matthew Forde helped ransack 93 from the final 10 overs, even if Livingstone’s final flourish make that look well below par.Shai Hope made his 17th ODI century to propel West Indies to 328 for 6•Getty ImagesLivingstone’s decision to bowl after winning the toss was immediately vindicated by the removal of both West Indies openers in the first 19 deliveries. John Turner was responsible for both initial strikes for his first wickets in international cricket, the second of which was the prized wicket of Evin Lewis. The hero of the first ODI was snared down the leg side for just four following Thursday’s match-winning 94.But things unravelled, characterised by England’s use of nine bowlers for only the second time in ODIs. That they could have dismissed Hope on 60 also cut them deep.From 12 for 2, consolidation was the initial aim for Hope and Carty, who could have been removed on eight. An English squeeze involved three fielders at backward point, but Bethell – the middle of them – could only palm a skewed drive from Carty which would have given Turner a third dismissal.The pair made it out of the Powerplay on 41 for 2, a figure bumped up in the 10th over by Hope’s first boundary – a stunning back-foot launch over extra cover for six off Turner. A brace of straight drives off Saqib Mahmood – the only change to the XI from the first ODI, with Jamie Overton sitting out – and a second six, lofting Adil Rashid over cover, was then followed by some quiet rotation.Once satisfied the early losses had been offset, risks were taken to lift the run-rate. However, having cleared midwicket after Bethell dropped short to bring up his 42nd fifty-plus score, from 66 deliveries, it was a botched defensive push that should have brought his innings to an end on 60. A edge of Bethell bounced out of the hands of Salt behind the stumps.Carty was soon moving to his fourth ODI fifty from 62 deliveries. He was then given two lives when a top-edge took Turner over the boundary at deep fine leg, then the fielder dropped a far simpler chance off the very next ball. Both came as Archer nailed his short-ball plans.That miss would only cost three runs, as Rashid returned to bowl Carty through the gate at the start of the 31st. But that brought Rutherford to the crease, who ended up striking seven boundaries – three of them sixes – for a fifth half-century from just 35 deliveries.Though he was dismissed a ball later – caught at deep cover attempting to replicate the six over the same region that took him to fifty – Hetmyer’s breezy 24 off 11 kept the pressure on. He was also dropped on 2 by Will Jacks down at long-on.Related

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Once Hetmyer was dismissed, caught by Archer at gully off a Rashid googly, Hope pressed down on the accelerator. After leaning into a drive off his 118th delivery to move to 100, he smeared Rashid for a four and six to wide long-on as 13 was taken off the 36-year-old’s final over.Hell-bent on throwing his bat at everything sent his way, Hope misread a slower delivery from Archer that was well-taken by Livingstone charging in from long-off. Forde then picked up the baton for the final straight, striking three successive sixes off Mahmood in the final over to lift the hosts to 328 for 6.Though England shot themselves in the foot with four drops, they were also guilty of spurning opportunities to make immediate amends with the bat. Salt looked on his way to redemption, carrying the start of the innings on his back, shrugging off the loss of Jacks in the fifth over to contribute 36 of England’s first fifty runs.When Shamar Joseph, making his ODI debut with his namesake Alzarri rested, bounced out Jordan Cox for an agonising 4 off 19 deliveries, Bethell arrived to take England to 107 for 3 by the 20-over mark.Both were culpable for relinquishing control. Salt skied the first ball of Forde’s new spell at the start of the 21st for 59, then Bethell dumped Roston Chase into the hands of long-off after reaching a maiden international fifty.But the duo of Livingstone and Curran, players still with much to prove despite their experience, refused to panic. Curran initially took the reins as the aggressor, starting smartly with a six off Motie having noticed an extra fielder in the outfield meant the umpires would call it a no-ball. He contributed 31 of the initial 50 for the fifth wicket before Livingstone, after five overs without a boundary heading into the final 10, decided it was going to be all on him.The starter pistol was set with a charge off Motie down the ground to bring up Livingstone’s fifty from 60 deliveries, before he signed off the 41st over with a slog-sweep over deep midwicket off the very next delivery. Back-to-back sixes in Motie’s next over – the second bringing up the century stand from 92 – also found the grass banks.Pace was then put back on the ball, which played further into Livingstone’s favour. When Curran was dismissed a ball after the skipper had nudged his 77th ball down the ground to move to 100, Dan Mousley played his part to a tee – simply dabbing singles. The most important came at the start of the 48th over, giving Livingstone the strike for the honour of hitting the winning run.

Chelsea ready swap offer to sign "unstoppable" £90m England international

Chelsea are now ready to offer Blues players as part of a swap deal for an “unbelievable” Premier League and England star, according to a report.

Blues set sights on another attacker

The Blues have already strengthened their forward options considerably this summer, with the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens sealing moves to Stamford Bridge, but Enzo Maresca remains keen on adding another attacking midfielder to his ranks.

The west Londoners have ramped up their interest in a number of playmakers over the past few days, with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers being identified as their top target, although there are two other exciting options on the shortlist.

Target

Current club

League G/A in 2024-25

Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa

19

Xavi Simons

RB Leipzig

17

Eberechi Eze

Crystal Palace

16

Maresca’s squad is arguably already bloated, meaning it could make sense to offload some unwanted players in swap deals for new signings, and a new report has revealed the Club World Cup champions plan to do exactly that.

Indeed, according to a report from The Boot Room, Chelsea are ready to offer players as part of a swap deal for Aston Villa’s Rogers, with Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile among the potential options.

Villa have also expressed an interest in Nicolas Jackson, as Unai Emery is keen on reuniting with the former Villarreal man, so it may also make sense to use the 24-year-old as a makeweight in negotiations.

The Blues can arguably afford to get rid of Jackson, given that Delap and Pedro have arrived this summer, with the latter playing a major role in their Club World Cup triumph, scoring three goals throughout the tournament.

Should a swap deal not be possible, Chelsea may have to spend big to get a deal over the line, with Villa reportedly looking to receive over £90m.

"Unstoppable" Rogers could be statement signing for Chelsea

The west Londoners should be in a strong financial position after winning the Club World Cup, having raked in around £85m, meaning they may be able to afford to make another statement signing this summer.

The Villa star would be exactly that, having performed remarkably well across the 2024-25 campaign, proving himself in his debut season in the Champions League by collecting four goals and three assists in 12 outings.

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Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has also been left impressed by the 22-year-old England international, describing him as “unstoppable”, and given the attacking midfielder’s age, he still has plenty of time to develop further.

Rogers could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea, and it would be an added bonus if they were able to get Jackson off the books as part of the deal, given that Pedro has already proven he is capable of leading the line next season.

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